§ Lord Goldsmithasked Her Majesty's Government:
What arrangements have been made for the co-ordination of government action to prevent intimidation by animal rights extremists. [HL1914]
§ The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton)The Prime Minister has today announced the establishment of a new Ministerial Committee.
On 28 March the Government announced a range of measures to prevent the intimidation of people who work in, or are connected with, legitimate animal research establishments in our Consultation Animal Rights Extremism: Government Strategy, which was published that day. A new Ministerial Committee has now been formed with the task of taking forward, and wherever possible adding to these initiatives, with the overall aim of reassuring people involved in legitimate research upon animals, whether as scientific workers, managers or investors, that criminal intimidation will not be allowed to succeed.
The terms of reference for the Committee will be:
"To co-ordinate policy to protect those who work in, or are connected with, legitimate animal research establishments against intimidation by extremist groups."
The membership will be:
- Secretary of State for the Home Department CHAIRMAN
- Minister of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
- Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
- Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment
- Minister of State, Scotland Office
- Economic Secretary to the Treasury
- Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office
- Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health
- Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry
- Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Wales Office
- Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office
The Chief Scientific Adviser will also be invited to attend meetings of the group. Other outside experts will be invited to attend as necessary.